Ireland captain Paul Stirling will miss the last two one-day internationals against Namibia after fracturing a finger while fielding in the third match. Tim Tector has been called up as his replacement. Ireland trail 2–1 in the five-match series, which continues on 30 October and concludes on 1 November in Windhoek.
Ireland captain Paul Stirling will miss the last two matches of the one-day international cricket series in Namibia after fracturing the ring finger on his left hand. He will return home for recovery and rehabilitation. The injury occurred while he was fielding in the third match. Tim Tector has been called up for the rest of the tour; he has played eight T20 internationals for Ireland but has not yet made his one-day international debut.[1], [2]
In the 15th over, a group of deliveries, Stirling dived forward from a close fielding position to try to catch a powerful cut shot by Namibia’s Jan Frylinck. The ball struck the tip of his finger. A hospital assessment that evening confirmed the fracture, according to the International Cricket Council, the sport’s world governing body. Stirling was unable to bat after the injury. He had scored 56 and 77 in the first two matches of the tour.[1], [2]
Namibia won the third match by 63 runs to take a 2–1 lead in the five-match series. Ireland had won the opener on 22 October by 55 runs, before losing the second by 31 runs. The final fixtures are scheduled for 30 October and 1 November in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital. Ireland are using the tour to prepare for next year’s World Cup qualifiers, and will play those remaining games without the captain who made half-centuries in both of his earlier innings.[1], [2]
